COMMUNITY safety wardens are asked to step up their surveillance of a park and children's play area in a bid to stop a stream of vandalism which is putting young children's lives at risk.

Teenagers meeting at the St John's recreation area off Middlewich Road in Rudheath have left the entrance to the park, pathway and children's play area covered in rubbish and broken glass.

A bench in the play area carved by pupils of Rudheath High School has also been badly damaged and safety matting beneath play equipment has been ripped up.

To make matters worse two gates, aimed at keeping children safe while playing in the park, have been removed - one is still missing and the other has been found damaged beyond repair, and fencing surrounding the play area has also been damaged.

St John's is situated next to Rudheath's Millennium Park which has been targeted by vandals.

The latest mess was discovered by Olwyn Dean, chairman of the Friends of the Millennium Park, who said she felt like crying, it was so bad.

'Whoever is doing all this is putting young children's lives in danger,' she said. 'There was glass and rubbish everywhere and it took my family and I an hour-anda-half just to clear the play area.

'Two gates at the play area have also been removed and a large chunk has been smashed out of a bench carved by local schoolchildren. It is all so disheartening.

'It has been quiet here for a while but with the arrival of the warmer weather it all seems to have kicked off again. We just don't know what is going to happen next.

'I just wish that when people see damage occurring they would contact the police.'